Apple’s strategy of packing meaningful upgrades into the iPhone 17 without raising the price appears to be paying off—and not just for Apple. A new report suggests one of its key display partners, LG, is poised for its strongest operating profit in nearly four years thanks to a surge in OLED panel orders tied to the iPhone 17.
Industry trackers indicate LG is expected to ship about 45.6 million OLED panels for the iPhone 17, while another supplier is projected to provide around 78 million units. The wave of orders is translating into healthier financials: analysts estimate LG could post an operating profit of roughly 448 billion won ($332.4 million) on revenue of 6.87 trillion won ($5.1 billion) in the third quarter of 2025. Looking ahead, forecasts suggest the company’s 2026 operating profit could approach 1 trillion won (about $741.9 million). These figures are projections based on current demand trends and could shift if iPhone 17 momentum changes.
So what’s driving the demand? The iPhone 17 is shaping up to be Apple’s best value play in years. It reportedly features the A19 chip built on TSMC’s advanced 3nm N3P process for improved performance and efficiency, doubles the base storage to 256GB, and upgrades to LTPO OLED technology—previously associated with higher-end models. Despite the hardware leap, the starting price remains $799, the same as its predecessor.
That combination of more power, more storage, and a more advanced display at an unchanged price is a compelling pitch for consumers and a windfall for component suppliers. If current trends hold, it’s a textbook example of how a flagship refresh can ripple through the supply chain and lift a partner’s earnings. If demand cools, projections will likely be revised—but for now, the iPhone 17’s value-focused formula is giving LG’s display business a notable boost.
